Page 146 of My Lucky Charm

“What do you think?” she asks.

“About your outfit?” I shrug. “A little casual.”

“Was that a joke?” Eloise cracks a smile. “Did you just make a joke?”

“It’s a one-time thing,” I say, and then, echoing my bossy daughter, I say, “You really can’t go in that.”

She rolls her eyes. “Are you okay if I crash your Daddy/Daughter date?”

“He’s fine with it.” Scarlett gives Eloise a little push. “But hurry up! We’re going to be late.”

“Fine, I’m going!” She rushes up the stairs, and once she’s out of sight, Scarlett looks up at me.

“You can thank me later.” She grins.

“Thank you for what?”

“For setting you and Eloise up,” she says.

“Oh, Scarlett, no,” I tell her. “I thought we talked about this.”

“You talked,” she says. “But I can tell you like her.” A pause. “And I know she likes you.”

“How do you know?” Geez, I sound like a middle school kid who just found out the girl he likes said something about him.

“I just do,” she says simply. “And I don’t want you to be alone, after I leave.” Next, she opens her bouquet of flowers and hands half of it to me.

“What’s this?”

“Flowers for Eloise.”

I’m trying to think of a reply when Eloise appears at the top of the stairs in a black dress that hugs her body in all the right places. She pulled her hair out of the bun that was on the top of her head, and it now hangs long and loose past her shoulders.

“That was quick,” Scarlett says.

“I’m pretty low maintenance.” Eloise starts down the stairs. “Luckily, my mom hasn’t given away all the clothes I left behind when I moved out.”

“Wait!” Scarlett practically shouts this.

Eloise freezes.

“You said to walk slowly.” Scarlett holds her hands, motioning for Eloise to slow down. “Make an entrance.”

“Okay, fine, but just this once.”

Eloise makes a point of sighing as she trudges back up the stairs. Once she’s at the top, she turns, shoots Scarlett a look of fake annoyance and starts walking slowly toward us.

Somewhere around the fourth step from the top, Eloise meets my eyes, and I freeze. Why is my heart racing? I know I need to stay focused, but I’m starting to think not telling Eloise how I feel is more of a distraction than putting it all out there.

My fingers twitch, and I tighten my grip on the flowers to keep myself from pulling Eloise in my arms and making sure there’s no doubt what I’m thinking in this moment.

She reaches the bottom of the stairs, her cheeks flushed, and a trace of embarrassment on her face. Scarlett elbows me, nodding at the half bouquet. “Oh, right.” I look at Eloise. “Uh, these are for you from Scarlett.”

She takes them and smiles. “Well, thank you, Scarlett.” She makes a face at her, and Scarlett gives one right back.

“Okay, I’m starving,” Scarlett says. “Let’s go eat!”

Eloise laughs, and an adorable shyness washes over her. She follows Scarlett out the door, leaving me standing in the entryway for a beat, and it’s nowhere near enough time to calm myself down.

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